What to Pay a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City, MO (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$76,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$66K–$87K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+3.6%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~24

Kansas City metro average

To hire a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City at market, plan on a base salary range of $66,000 to $87,000, with $76,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 24 days, expect to lead at $87K–$100K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Missouri does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your RT pay range in Kansas City

Three pay positions, modeled against current Kansas City market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$58K–$66K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Kansas City average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$72K–$80.4K

Default for most Kansas City employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~24 days. A range width of ~30% (min $66,000 to max $87,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a RT's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$82.6K–$100K

Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

RT salary percentile distribution in Kansas City, MO

Where the Kansas City market actually sits for RT base pay.

10th $58K

25th $66K

Median $76K

75th $87K

90th $100K

Most Kansas City employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($76,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $66,000 and a max of $87,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Missouri pay transparency compliance for RT job postings

What you must post when hiring a RT in Missouri.

Not required statewide. Missouri has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a RT role in Kansas City, a compliant good-faith range looks like $66,000 to $87,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $66,000–$87,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top RT employers in Kansas City — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring RTs in the Kansas City metro and what they're posting.

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
Saint Luke's Health System	Health system	$71K–$90K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
HCA Midwest Health	Health system	$71K–$90K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
University of Kansas Health System	Academic medical center	$71K–$90K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
AdventHealth Shawnee Mission	Health system	$71K–$90K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
Children's Mercy Kansas City	Pediatric specialty	$71K–$90K	Very common ($8K–$15K)

RT talent supply and hiring difficulty in Kansas City

How hard is it to fill a RT role in Kansas City.

~24

Avg Days to Fill

~912

Active Postings

~5,320

Kansas City RT Workforce

Moderate

Supply : Demand

Kansas City respiratory therapist market centered on hospital ICU/ER, neonatal units, and pulmonary rehabilitation. ECMO specialists and NICU RTs command specialty premiums.

Skill premiums RT candidates command in Kansas City, MO

Skill / Credential	Pay Premium	Demand Signal
ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist)	+7–10%	Very high
NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist)	+7–10%	Very high
ECMO specialist	+9–14%	High — specialty centers
RRT-SDS (Sleep Disorders)	+5–8%	Moderate

RT total compensation in Kansas City — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for RTs in Kansas City. "Prevalence" reflects share of Kansas City disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Kansas City Postings
Base salary	$76,000 (median)	100%
Shift differential	+12–18% premium	~86%
Sign-on bonus	$5K–$11K	~62%
Certification pay (ACCS, NPS)	+7–10% on base	~52%
Overtime opportunity	$8K–$15K annualized	~90%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$93K–$109K	—

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

RT pay by setting in Kansas City — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the RT range splits by employer type in the Kansas City metro.

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
Acute-care hospital (general)	$73,000	$65K–$84K	Moderate
ICU / critical care RT	$84,000	$74K–$94K	Very high
Emergency department RT	$81,000	$71K–$91K	Very high
Neonatal / pediatric RT	$82,000	$73K–$93K	Very high
Pulmonary rehab / sleep lab	$68,000	$62K–$79K	Moderate

FAQ: hiring a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City, MO

How much should I pay a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City, MO?

Market median is $76,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $76,000 — typically $66,000 to $87,000. To lead the market, plan on $87K–$100K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a RT job in Missouri?

No statewide law requires a posted range in Missouri. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $66,000–$87,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $68,000 competitive for a RT in Kansas City?

$68,000 falls below the Kansas City market median of $76,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for RTs in Kansas City?

Roughly 62% of Kansas City RT postings include a sign-on bonus ($5K–$11K). Specialty units (ICU, NICU, ECMO) command highest premiums.

How long does it take to fill a RT role in Kansas City?

Average fill time is approximately 24 days in the Kansas City metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($87K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($66K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for RT talent in Kansas City?

By Kansas City-metro posting volume: Saint Luke's Health System, HCA Midwest Health, University of Kansas Health System, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Children's Mercy Kansas City lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a RT in Kansas City?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for RT in Kansas City — for example, $66,000 to $87,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does Missouri require RT pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. Missouri has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related RT pay benchmarks — Missouri metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

RT pay benchmark — St. Louis, MO → RT pay benchmark — Omaha, NE → RT pay benchmark — Wichita, KS → All RT pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Kansas City

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.